Method and arrangement for supplying sliver to a fine spinning machine

ABSTRACT

Sliver is transported in large transport cans to a refilling device adjacent to a fine spinning machine having two parallel rows of spinning stations. The sliver is transferred from such large transport cans to supply cans which are smaller and are movable between the refilling station and individual spinning stations. At least four parallel supply can supporting tracks are provided, two of which are spinning head feeding tracks and two are refilling tracks. One refilling track receives empty supply cans transferred from the feeding tracks for circulation past the refilling station, and the other track receives the refilled supply cans for transfer to a spinning head feeding track. The refilling can tracks can be connected at both ends for unidirectional, or at one end for reversible, transfer of empty supply cans from one refilling track past a refilling device to the other track. The filled supply cans may be exchanged for emptied supply cans by connecting a spinning head feeding track to a refilling track and moving the supply cans along a continuous path, or by rails pushing filled supply cans transversely from a filling track onto an adjacent spinning head feeding track, thereby pushing empty supply cans onto another filling track.

ilnited States Patent [191 Handschuh et a1.

[ 1 Feb. 20, 1973 [73] Assignee: Schubert & Salzer MaschinenfabrikAktiengesellschaft, lngolstadt, Germany [22] Filed: Dec. 16, 1970 [21]Appl. No.: 98,840

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 24, 1969 Germany ..P 19 64857.8

[52] US. Cl ..57/34 R, 57/5889, 57/156, 19/159 A [51] Int. Cl. ..D0lh9/18 [58] Field of Search ..57/1 R, 34, 36, 50, 58.89, 57/5891, 58.93,58.95, 52, 127.5,156; 191159 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,125,782 3/1964 Kaine et a1. ..19/159 3,132,461 5/1964 Arai..57/1 3,199,152 8/1965 Tooka et a1. ....l9/159 3,323,177 6/1967 Binderet a1. ..19/159 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,143,742 2/1963 Germany..19/159 Primary Examiner-Werner H. Schroeder Att0rney-Robert W. Beach[5 7 ABSTRACT Sliver is transported in large transport cans to arefilling device adjacent to a fine spinning machine having two parallelrows of spinning stations. The sliver is transferred from such largetransport cans to supply cans which are smaller and are movable betweenthe refilling station and individual spinning stations. At least fourparallel supply can supporting tracks are provided, two of which arespinning head feeding tracks and two are refilling tracks. One

refilling track receives empty supply cans transferredfrom the feedingtracks for circulation past the refilling station, and the other trackreceives the refilled supply cans for transfer to a spinning headfeeding track. The refilling can tracks can be connected at both endsfor unidirectional, or at one end for reversible, transfer of emptysupply cans from one refilling track past a refilling device to theother track. The filled supply cans may be exchanged for emptied supplycans by connecting a spinning head feeding track to a refilling trackand moving the supply cans along a continuous path, or by rails pushingfilled supply cans transversely from a filling track onto an adjacentspinning head feeding track, thereby pushing empty supply cans ontoanother filling track.

15 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures tab/16.979

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SHEET 7 OF 9 war/02M A TraEA/ZJ PATENIED FEBEO 1975 SHEET 8 OF 9INVENTOR5' METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR SUPPLYING SLIVER TO A FINESPINNING MACHINE The invention relates to methods and apparatus for thesupply of sliver to fine spinning machinery and more particularly toopen end spinning machinery, in which the sliver originating from aprevious fiberpreparing machine is passed in transport cans to the finespinning machine. The invention is also concerned with arrangements forcarrying out such methods.

The supply of sliver deposited in transport cans to fine spinningmachines is a conventional practice. However, there are difficulties inaccommodating such transport cans at each spinning station, since thespacing between spinning stations is kept as small as possible, toreduce the space requirement of the frame. For this reason numerousproposals have already been made for a compact accommodation of slivertransport cans. Thus, for example, in accordance with one proposal thecontainers were to be placed in a creel over the spinning machine or onan individual platform which is arranged above or below the platform onwhich the machine is mounted.

Although the previously made proposals for the accommodation oftransport cans are very diverse in nature, they are all based on anarrangement in which the sliver is supplied from cans of small diameterwhich are made to suit the spatial relationships existing in thespinning frame and the sliver is supplied to the machine in thesecontainers. The use of cans of small diameter as sliver depositcontainers for the fiber-preparing machine preceding the fine spinningmachine, for example a preparing machine such as a drawing frame,impairs the efficiency of such a machine substantially if it is providedwith a can-changing arrangement. The high throughput speed obtained atthe present time with drawing machines cannot be fully utilized if smallsliver take-up containers have to be filled, so that there is a trend touse larger and larger cans. On the other hand, so-called can spinning"of a conventional type makes a sliver deposit device necessary on thepreceding fiber-treating machine which runs counter to the economics ofproduction. A further disadvantage of the previous type of silver supplyto fine spinning machines is the necessity of transporting and storingthe large number of such small cans, something which leads tosubstantial costs being incurred.

One aim of the present invention is to provide an economic andconvenient solution to the above problem in the case of fine spinning,more particularly in the case of open end spinning direct from a cansliver supply.

The present invention includes a method for the supply of sliver to afine spinning machine, in which the sliver is filled into largetransport cans at a preceding fiber-treating machine, is moved in thesecans to the fine spinning machine, is transferred to a plurality ofsmaller supply cans arranged permanently adjacent to the fine spinningmachines, and is passed from the supply cans to the spinning leads ofthe fine spinning machine.

The exchange of the empty supply cans for full supply cans can becarried out in an alternate fashion for each machine side respectively.This offers the advantage that the spinning stations of the side of theframe not affected by the change-over can carry on production, so thatlosses in production due to stopping are reduced by one half. Ashortening of the time taken for changing can be achieved by adoptingthe feature that the exchange of the empty supply cans for full supplycans is carried out by simultaneous transverse displacement of the emptyand full can rows. This manner of operation offers the further advantagethat the laying on or connection of the sliver in a full can with thepreceding length of sliver in an emptying can is possible during theoperation of the machine so that no 7 stopping of the machine isnecessary during can change-over.

The number of can paths can be reduced, and, therefore, a particularlycompact arrangement is achieved if the empty supply cans are exchangedfor full supply cans in an orbital system, and if the empty supply cansof both sides of the spinning frame are indexed past the fillingposition in separate filling circuit.

The method of supply of sliver in accordance with the inventionfacilitates current attempts to rationalize spinning. It makes possiblea saving in space, in containers and in the number of operators.Furthermore the method can avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages whichwould occur if the preceding fiber treating machine is specially adaptedto the fine spinning machine.

The present invention also relates to a spinning arrangement comprisinga fine spinning machine, supply cans which circulate only between anadjacent refilling device and the fine spinning machine, and transportcans for carrying sliver from a preceding fiber-treating machine to thefine spinning machine for filling of the sliver into the supply cans.

In accordance with a preferred feature of the invention relating to thearrangement for carrying out the method, the mechanism comprises acan-refilling means adjacent to the fine spinning machine, the supplycans being circulated between this refilling means and individualspinning stations of the fine spinning machine. Independent operation ofthe two sides of the frame or machine can be made possible by providinga plurality of refilling means.

A further feature of the arrangement resides in the provision of atleast four can tracks or paths parallel to the rows of spinningpositions or heads. A compact and therefore particularly advantageousaccommodation of the supply cans on the can tracks can be achieved byadopting the feature that the number of supply cans is so large that allcan tracks are fully occupied. In accordance with a preferredarrangement embodying the invention, the can tracks are connected atleast at one end with each other so that the supply cans can change overfrom one can track or path to the other. For this purpose the supplycans can be moved by endless transport or conveying chains or belts inthe direction of the can tracks or by means for displacing rows of cansin a direction perpendicular to the can tracks.

Further details of the invention are described in more detail withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front elevation of an open end spinning machinewith a refilling device.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic top plan showing the arrangement of the supplycans for a filling circuit and a change-over circuit with the associatedtransport means, parts being broken away.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse section on line IVIV ofFIG. 3.

FIGS. 5 6, and 7 are diagrammatic top plans showing alternativearrangements of the supply cans parts being broken away in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a top plan of the refilling means and the associated feeddevice.

FIG. 9 is a detail of the displacing or feed device shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the feed device shown in FIG. 8 and FIG.9, with parts broken away and parts in section.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal vertical section through the arrangement ofthe supply containers of FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIG. 1 it can be seen that a refilling device 2 islocated on the frame side opposite to the drive side 11 of an open endspinning machine 1. This refilling device is supplied with sliver F fromsliverfilled transport cans 3, the sliver coming from a precedingfiber-treating machine not shown. The sliver F is removed from thetransport cans 3 by the refilling device 2 and placed into smallersupply cans 5 adapted to the spinning heads or stations 4. The supplycans 5, of which at least one is provided for each spinning head 4 tofeed it with sliver, are preferably arranged inside the spinning machine1 for reasons of compactness and always remain adjacent to the machineor frame. The spinning stations 4 are conventionally arranged in rows onboth sides of the spinning frame 1, for which reason supply cans 5 areprovided for both sides of the frame. When the supply cans 5 are empty,they are moved in a manner which is to be described below from thespinning heads 4 of the frame to the refilling device 2, filled by itand then moved again away from the refilling device 2. The principalparts of the refilling device 2 are formed by a turntable ofconventional construction and a housing covering the turntable. Theturntable serves as a supply device.

The arrangement and movement of the supply cans 5 can be carried out invarious ways. As shown in FIG. 2 only one refilling device 2 is providedfor both sides of the spinning machine or frame 1. The exchange of emptysupply cans for filled cans is carried out alternately for the two sidesof the machine. Before exchange of the supply cans 5 the spinningstations 4 are stopped on the side of the frame or machine for which thechangeover is to be effected.

Four can tracks or paths K,, K K and K are provided for supporting andguiding movement of supply cans 5, but the supply of cans is limited tothe number which would fill three tracks. The can tracks K, and K, carryfull supply cans 5, from which sliver is supplied for the spinningstations or heads. At the beginning of the refilling cycle, empty supplycans 5 are arranged on one of the two other can tracks K, or K In FIG. 2the cans are shown in their positions midway through the refilling cyclein which the empty supply cans 5 are arranged on the can track or path KThe cans which have been moved past the refilling device 2 and filledwith sliver from the transport can 3 stand on the can track K,.

The supply cans 5 are moved along the can tracks or paths by endlessconveying chains or conveying belts arranged beneath the cans. While thetwo outermost can tracks K, and K, are each provided with one transportchain 61 and 62 respectively, transport on the two inner can paths K andK is carried out by a transport chain 63 which is common to these twotracks. For entraining the cans 5 dogs 67 are attached to the transportchains. The transport chains are guided by idler sprocket wheels 68.

The transport chains 61, 62 and 63 are driven by a reversible motor 6(see FIGS. 3 and 4) through a belt or chain drive and bevel gearing 610,620 and 630 which are fixedly engaged with and drive the sprocket wheels611, 621 and 631, respectively, which sprocket wheels are engaged withthe respective transport chains. The driving bevel gears of the bevelgearing 610, 620 and 630 are fixed on shafts 64, and 66. Dog clutches640 and 650 make possible a connection between the driving shaft 65 andthe driven shafts 64 and 66, respectively. Further description of thedrive and control of the transport chains is not necessary since suchmeans are sufficiently well-known to those in the art.

For reliable guidance of the supply cans guide rails 75, 76 are arrangedon both sides of each can track or path. The guide rails and 76 of thetwo inner can tracks K, and K, at their ends remote from the refillingdevice 2 are connected with the guide rails 75 and 76 of the respectivecan track K, or K, adjacent to them, as is shown in FIG. 2. At the endof the can tracks K and K in front of the refilling device 2 guide arms71, 72 which can be pivoted about axes 7 are provided.

The can paths or tracks K and K are connected with each other by thetransport chain 63. After the filling of each can 5 the transport chain63 is indexed to move the full can 5 from the refilling device 2 ontothe can path K and an empty can 5 from the can path K, to the refillingdevice. For alternate refilling cycles the motor 6 is reversed and emptycans on track K, are moved step-by-step past the refilling device andonto track K During the circulatory movement for filling, the guide arms71 and 72 are swung into the position shown in full lines so that thepassage to the outer can tracks K, and K, is prevented. The transport orconveying chains 61 and 62 are stationary during the refilling cycle,since the full cans 5 on the can tracks K, and K, are emptied by theoperating spinning heads 4. As soon as all cans 5 in the filling circuitare filled in the manner described and are moved in the direction of thearrow P, from the can track K onto the can track K the circulatorymovement for filling is stopped. Accordingly the filled cans arepositioned for the can changeover for the spinning head on the machineside adjacent to can track K,.

As soon as the supply cans 5 on the can track K, are empty, they areexchanged for filled supply cans S-carried on the can track K,. Theexchange is by circulating the cans along the orbit defined by the cantracks K, and K, and the arcuate connecting portions of rails 75 and 76in the direction of the arrows P The guide arm 71 is swung into thebroken line position 71' at the beginning of this changeover cycle sothat movement onto the can track K, is blocked. The sprocket wheel 611is driven by bevel gearing 610 operable by driven shaft 64 (FIGS. 3 and4) which is connected with the driving shaft 65 by the dog clutch 640for driving the transport chain 61. The transport chain 61 moves theemptied supply cans 5 to the can track K and the cans are released fromthe dogs 67 owing to the change in the direction of movement of thechain 61 as it passes around the idler wheel 68 adjacent sprocket wheel61 1. Such cans are then engaged by the dogs 67 of the transport chain63 and entrained. in a similar manner the full cans 5 are transported bythe transport chain 63 to the other end of the can track K and takenover by the transport chain 61. The lateral guidance of the cans iscarried out by the guide rails 75 and 76.

After the termination of the circulatory movement for can changeover theclutch 640 between the driving shaft 65 and the driven shaft 64 isdisconnected, the guiding arm 71 is moved out of the broken-lineposition 71' into its original full-line position and the motor 6 (seeFIG. 4) is reversed so that the supply cans 5, now emptied, standing onthe can track K are moved by the transport chain 63 in a clockwisedirection (as indicated by arrow P in steps to the refilling device 2,

filled by it with sliver and then transported on the can track K By thetime can changeover cycle begins on the opposite side of the machine,all empty cans have been filled by refilling device 2 and changed overfrom the can track K to the can track K so that the can track K iscompletely filled with filled supply cans 5. Accordingly can changeoverfor the spinning heads adjacent to the can track K can be effected. Whenthe supply cans 5 on track K are emptied, the guide arm 72 is swung intothe broken-line position 72 and the sprocket wheel 621 is rotated in thedirection of arrow P by connection of the shaft 66 through clutch 650with the driving shaft 65. The empty supply can 5 which are entrained bythe dogs 67 of the transport chain 62 now move from the can track K, tothe can track K and the filled supply cans 5 standing on the can track Kmove onto the can track K in a manner similar to the can changeoverdescribed above. After all supply cans 5 of this side of the machinehave been transferred from one can track K or K to the other can track,the drive of the transport chain 62 is interrupted and the guide arm 72is swung out of the broken-line position 72 into the solid-line positionof FIG. 2 so that cans on track K can be moved onto path K Thesubsequent filling of the empty supply cans 5 on the can track K iseffected by indexing chain 63 in the direction of P in the previouslydescribed manner.

The device for filling and changing the supply cans in accordance withFIG. 5 differs from that described above in that all four can tracks K KK and K are completely occupied by supply cans 5 and the two inner cantracks K and K are connected with each other at both ends. The ends ofthe can tracks K and K remote from the refilling device 2 are providedwith further guide arms 73 and 74. Accordingly it is possible to movethe supply cans 5 in a circuit past the refilling device 2 supplied bytransport can 3. It is also possible to exchange simultaneously supplycans 5 standing on the can tracks K and K which cans have been emptiedby supplying sliver to the spinning heads or stations, for cans whichhave been filled. Consequently, after the exchange or changeoveroperation, all of the cans 5 on tracks K and K are empty and ready forinitiation of the can-filling operation.

During the circulatory movement of the supply cans 5 for filling, theguide arms 71, 72, 73 and 74 are swung into their full line position sothat the supply cans 5 moved by the dogs 67 of the transport chain 63moving in a counterclockwise direction (arrows P are positioned at therefilling device 2 and are then transferred from can track K to track Kwhile the paths to the can tracks K and K are blocked. The fillingoperation is terminated when all supply cans 5 have been filled andagain returned to their original positions.

At the beginning of the cycle for exchanging emptied supply cans 5 onthe can tracks K and K, for the filled supply cans 5 on the can tracks Kand K the guide arms 71 and 72, together with the guide arms 73 and 74are moved into the broken-line positions 71, 72; 73', 74' and the twoshafts 64 and 66 (FIGS. 3 and 4) are coupled with the driving shaft 65for driving the transport chains 61 and 62. Owing to the swingingmovement of the guide arms the supply cans S standing on track K whichcontinue to be moved by the transport chains 63 running in ancounterclockwise direction, are transferred from this track onto thetrack K and the emptied cans 5 are transported along can track K, by thetransport chain 61 and dogs 67 for transfer from track K onto the cantrack K (see arrows P Simultaneously the filled supply cans 5 located onthe other machine side are conveyed from the can track K onto the cantrack K while the emptied supply cans 5, propelled by the transportchain 62, move from the can track K, to the can track K (see arrows PAfter the guide arms are swung out of the broken-line positions 71', 72,73' and 74 into their starting full-line positions and the transportchains 61 and 62 are stopped a new can-filling cycle commences.

Naturally it is also possible to use different driving means for thesupply cans 5 than that shown. Thus, for example, the circulatorymovement for filling could occur in a direction opposite to the arrowsP,, that is in the clockwise direction, and the following changeover ofthe supply cans 5 could occur in a direction opposite to that indicatedby the arrows P and P Also'it is possible to carry out the fillingcirculatory movement in the clockwise direction and after termination ofthe circulatory movement for filling to reverse the drive of thetransport chain 63 so that, on changing over the emptied supply cans 5for filled cans, the cans are moved in the direction of the arrows P andP In contrast to the embodiments of the invention so far described forthe supply of sliver, in which the empty supply cans are exchanged forfilled cans a continuous path, FIG. 6 shows an embodiment for changeoverof the cans involving the simultaneous transverse displacement of theempty and full can rows. This changeover is carried out alternately forone side of the spinning frame or machine and then for the other side.

Of the five can tracks K K K K and K three can tracks are fully occupiedby supply cans when the system is ready for the changeover operation.The can tracks K, and K carry the supply cans 5, which supply sliver tothe spinning heads or stations. On one of the two can tracks K, or K,there are empty supply cans 5. Immediately before, during andimmediately after the can changeover for the spinning stations or headson the side of the can track K the can track K is filled with emptysupply cans 5. For filling the empty cans 5 are moved in the directionof the can track K as far as the refilling device 2 (arrow P Subsequentdisplacement of a can located at the end of track K adjacent therefilling device 2 will be in a direction perpendicular to the cantracks (arrow P-,) so that the cans are passed underneath the turntableof the refilling device 2 and are filled with fiber sliver from thetransport can 3. The filled cans are removed so as to pass onto the cantrack K (arrow P which track after the termination of the circulatorymovement for filling is completely filled with filled supply cans 5.

The exchange of the emptied supply cans 5 standing on the can track K,for the filled supply cans 5 on the can track K is carried out bysimultaneous displacement of these two can rows in a directionperpendicular to the can tracks in the direction of the arrow P Thefilled supply cans 5 displace the empty supply cans 5 from the can trackK onto the can track K, as shown in broken lines as cans 5 in FIG. 6,and such filled cans take up their positions on the can track K.,.

A new circulatory movement for filling now commences. The empty supplycans 5' advance in steps in the direction along the can track K towardsthe refilling device 2 (arrow P After displacement of the individualsupply cans 5' in a direction perpendicular to the can tracks until theycome underneath the refilling device (arrow P and after filling withsliver they are conveyed as filled cans 5 back onto the can track orpath K (arrow P As soon as the supply cans 5 standing on the can track Kare empty, they are exchanged for the filled supply cans 5 on the cantrack K,,. The exchange is carried out by a simultaneous transversedisplacement of the two rows of cans in a manner similar to thatdescribed above for the exchange of cans between tracks K K and K Afterdisplacement in the direction of the arrow P empty supply cans 5 againstand on the can track X ready for the next circulatory movement forfilling.

The transport of the supply cans along the can tracks K K and K isensured'by the transport chains 641, 651 and 661 (FIG. 11), which aredriven in steps. When the supply can standing under the turntable of therefilling device 2 is filled with sliver from the transport can 3, thedrive of the transport chain 651 is energized and, depending on theposition of the empty supply cans 5, either the drive of the transportchain 641 or of the transport chain 661 is energized. The dogs 67 of thetransport chain 651 engage the filled supply can 5 and transport it ontothe can track K Simultaneously an empty supply can 5 is conveyed betweenthe arms 80, 81 of a displacing device 8 arranged within the refillingdevice 2 (see FIG. 8). The

displacing device 8 is moved along a rail 82 by grooved wheels 820 and821 and is guided by further grooved wheels 822 along a lower rail 82'(see FIG. 10). A

' motor (not shown) located outside the refilling device 2 drives shaft83 to turn sprocket wheel 85 mounted on such drive shaft and thereby todrive an endless transport chain 84. The transport chain 84 is guided byidler sprocket wheel 86, shown in FIG. 8. A reliable guidance of thesupply cans 5 during displacement in a direction perpendicular to thecan tracks in the directions of the arrows P, and P is ensured by theguide rails 860, 87, respectively.

A further guide rail 88 is arranged between the arms 80 and 81. When,during its forward movement along the can track K (arrow P the supplycan 5 abuts against the rail 88, the displacing device 8 is set inmotion. The supply can 5 is accordingly moved underneath the turntableof the refilling device 2 having the pair of calender rollers 20,whereupon refilling of sliver F is begun from the transport can 3 intothe supply can 5.

After the arms 80, 81 have been swung away from the supply can 5, thedisplacing device 8 returns to the appropriate can track K or K in whichposition it is ready for receiving a further supply can 5 after arms 80,81 are swung into the transport position. Swinging movement of the arms80, 81 is effected by a reversible motor 89 arranged between the armsthrough a gear wheel 890 mounted on the motor shaft through idler whichdrives through idler wheels, the gear wheels 891 (FIGS. 9 and 10)mounted on the shafts 801, 810. The arms 80, 81 are rigidly connected tothe shafts 801, 810 to swing with shaft rotation.

A simultaneous displacement of the two rows of cans in a directionperpendicular to the can tracks on can changeover is ensured by adisplacing device 9 shown in FIG. 11. Each end of the upper and lowerdisplacing arms 91, 92 extending through vertical rods 90 carry rails910, 920 extending parallel to and having lengths equal to the cantracks. A row of vertical rods 90 are spaced along a line parallel tothe can track and are connected with lead nuts 93 on threaded rods 94with opposite threads and are moved backwards and forwards by the rodswhich rotate in the same direction. A motor, not shown, drives rods 94through bevel gearing 95. After movement of rods 90 to the right in FIG.11 to displace the rows of cans on tracks K and K the vertical rods 90with the, displacing arms 91, 92 remain between the can tracks K and Kuntil transverse displacement in the opposite direction transferringcans on tracks K and K becomes necessary. The shown arrangement andmovement of the supply cans 5 is particularly advantageous in that onlyone displacement device 9 is required. It is, however, also possible todisplace the empty supply cans 5 from the tracks K and K onto the cantrack K so that alternate filling cycles transfer filled cans onto theouter can tracks K and K and the direction of transverse displacement ofthe can rows during changeover will be in a direction toward the middletrack K In this instance it would be necessary to provide a displacingdevice 9 on each side of the frame.

While in the embodiments of the invention described above each spinningmachine is only provided with one refilling device, the spinning machineof FIG. 7 is provided with two refilling devices 21 and 22 supplied bytransport cans 31, 32, respectively. This use of twice as many refillingdevices and the provision of six can tracks makes possible thesimultaneous changing over of the supply cans on both sides of themachine or frame by simultaneous displacement of the empty and full canrows.

Of the six can tracks available the tracks K K and K, are arranged forcooperation with the refilling device 21 while the tracks K K and K arearranged for cooperation with the refilling device 22. The supply cans 5from which sliver is supplied to the spinning heads are located on thecan tracks K and K.,. The can tracks K and K, at the beginning of thefilling cycle are completely occupied with empty supply cans. The

, transport devices are the same as those described above with referenceto FIGS. 6 and 8 to 11 so that the following description is limited tooperation of the filling and changeover cycles.

The empty supply cans 5 on the can track K are supplied by a transportchain to the refilling device 21 as indicated by arrow P In thisposition they are engaged by the displacing device 8, shown in FIG. 8,to be moved under the turntable of the filling device and filled. Eachfilled can 5 is pushed by the displacing device 8 onto the transportchain of the can track K which is then energized to convey the filledsupply can 5 onto the can track K The displacing device 8 returns to thecan track K and is ready for receiving the next empty supply can 5. Thetransverse displacement of the supply cans within the refilling device21 is indicated by arrow P while removal onto the can track K isindicated by the arrow P In a similar manner the empty supply cans 5 onthe can track K, are transported to the refilling device 22 (see arrow PThey are similarly positioned under the turntable of the refillingdevice and after filling are pushed onto the can track K (arrow P by adisplacing device 8. Following this they are moved onto the can track Kin the direction of arrow P After the termination of the two circulatoryfilling operations the can tracks K and K are completely filled withfilled supply cans 5.

The exchange of the emptied supply cans for filled cans is effectedsimultaneously on both sides of the machine by simultaneous transversedisplacement (arrows P and P of the rows of cans standing on the cantracks, K, and K, and on the can tracks K and K by means of twodisplacing devices 9 of the type shown in FIG. 11. Consequently thefilled supply cans 5 pass from the can track K onto the can track K, andfrom the can track K to the can track K and push the emptied supply cans5 onto the can tracks K and K respectively, in which position the emptycans stand ready for the next circulatory movement for filling.

The billing cycle can also be reversed in the case of this embodiment sothat the empty supply cans 5 stand on the can tracks K and K and, aftertheir filling at the refilling devices 21 and 22, move onto the outercan tracks K and K,. The simultaneous transverse displacement of theempty and full can rows on can changeover in this instance is in adirection opposite to that indicated by the arrows P and P for whichpurpose separate displacing devices 9 are provided at the outer sides ofthe can tracks K and K The method in accordance with the invention forsupply of sliver to fine spinning machines solves a significanttransport problem in spinning factories. It is possible, of course, toprovide different means for transporting the cans. For example, for thetransport of the supply cans along the can tracks, it is possible to usetransport belts or bands instead of chains. Also the displacing devicewithin the filling device can be replaced by transport chains, belts orstraps arranged transversely relative to the can tracks.

We claim:

1. A method for supplying sliver to a plurality of spinning stations ina fine spinning machine, which comprises feeding sliver to such spinningstations from supply cans, transporting emptied supply cans to arefilling station, refilling such emptied supply cans at such refillingstation with sliver from a transport can larger than such supply cansand containing sliver, the transport can having been received from afiber-treating machine, and transporting such supply cans to suchspinning stations for again feeding sliver from the supply cans.

2. The method defined in claim 1 for supplying sliver to a plurality ofspinning stations in a fine spinning machine, the stations beingarranged in a row at one side of the machine, including simultaneouslyremoving from all of the spinning stations of such row supply cans fromwhich sliver has been fed, and simultaneously placing in all thespinning stations of such row supply cans containing sliver to be fed tothe respective spinning stations of such row.

3. The method defined in claim 2 for supplying sliver to a plurality ofspinning stations in a fine spinning machine, the stations beingarranged in rows at opposite sides, respectively, of the spinningmachine, including simultaneously removing from the spinning stations ofthe rows at both sides of the spinning machine supply cans from whichsliver has been removed, and simultaneously placing at all the spinningstations of both rows at opposite sides of the spinning machine supplycans containing sliver to be fed to the respective spinning stations.

4. The method defined in claim 2 for supplying sliver to a plurality ofspinning stations in a fine spinning machine, the stations beingarranged in two rows at opposite sides, respectively, of the machine,including simultaneously removing from all the spinning stations of afirst row supply cans from which sliver has been removed, simultaneouslyplacing at all the stations of such row supply cans containing sliverfrom which sliver is to be fed to the spinning stations of such rowwhile supply cans remain located undisturbed at the spinning stations ofthe other row, and, while the supply cans remain located undisturbed atthe spinning stations of the first row, simultaneously removing from thespinning stations of the second row supply cans from which sliver hasbeen removed and simultaneously placing at the supply stations of suchsecond row supply cans containing sliver to be fed to the spinningstations of such second row.

5. The method defined in claim 2, in which the supply cans are removedfrom all of the spinning stations in a row and in a directiontransversely of the length of such row, and, in placing the supply cansin the spinning stations, moving such cans in a row in a directiontransversely of the length of such row.

6. The method defined in claim 2, in which the cans in being removedfrom the spinning stations are moved along one portion of an orbit awayfrom the spinning stations, and the cans being placed in the spinningstations are moved along another portion of the same orbit toward suchspinning stations.

7. The method defined in claim 3, in which refilling stations arelocated at opposite sides, respectively, of the fine spinning machine,cans removed from the spinning stations at the opposite sides of thefine spinning machine are moved toward their respective refillingstations along one portion of their respective orbits, and cans to beplaced in the spinning stations at opposite sides of the spinningmachine are moved toward such spinning stations along the samerespective orbits from the refilling stations.

8. Mechanism for supplying sliver to a plurality of spinning stations ina fine spinning machine, comprising supply cans, means for feeding thestations from said supply cans, a refilling station, a transport canlarger than said supply cans receivable in said refilling station andhaving been received from a fiber-treating machine, said refillingstation including means for refilling said supply cans from saidtransport can, and means for moving said supply cans from said refillingstation to the spinning stations of the fine spinning machine.

9. The sliver-supplying mechanism defined in claim 8, in which aplurality of the spinning stations are arand connecting means connectingthe four tracks in two pairs, said connecting means connectingcorresponding ends of the tracks of each pair for movement of cans fromone track of a pair to the other track of the same pair while cans aremoving simultaneously from said other track of such pair to said onetrack of the same pair.

13. The sliver-supplying mechanism defined in claim 8, in which themoving means includes at least three tracks along which supply cans; canmove, first connecting.means connecting a first one of said tracks to asecond one of said tracks, second connecting means connecting said firstone of said tracks to the third track, and selecting means operableselectively to transfer supply cans from said first track to said secondtrack by said first connecting means, and from said first track to saidthird track by said second connecting means.

14. The sliver-supplying mechanism defined in claim 8, in which themoving means includes endless trans- 'port means for moving supply cansfrom the can- 11. The sliver-supplying mechanism defined in claim 10,including sufficient supply cans to fill all four tracks simultaneously.

12. The sliver-supply mechanism defined in claim 10,

refilling means to the spinning stations of the fine spinning machineand back to the can-refilling means.

15. The sliver-supplying mechanism defined in claim 8, in which themoving means includes track means for carrying supply cans in a row, anddisplacing means for moving such'a row of supply, cans in a directiontransversely of the length of said track means.

1. A method for supplying sliver to a plurality of spinning stations ina fine spinning machine, which comprises feeding sliver to such spinningstations from supply cans, transporting emptied supply cans to arefilling station, refilling such emptied supply cans at such refillingstation with sliver from a transport can larger than such supply cansand containing sliver, the transport can having been received from afiber-treating machine, and transporting such supply cans to suchspinning stations for again feeding sliver from the supply cans.
 1. Amethod for supplying sliver to a plurality of spinning stations in afine spinning machine, which comprises feeding sliver to such spinningstations from supply cans, transporting emptied supply cans to arefilling station, refilling such emptied supply cans at such refillingstation with sliver from a transport can larger than such supply cansand containing sliver, the transport can having been received from afiber-treating machine, and transporting such supply cans to suchspinning stations for again feeding sliver from the supply cans.
 2. Themethod defined in claim 1 for supplying sliver to a plurality ofspinning stations in a fine spinning machine, the stations beingarranged in a row at one side of the machine, including simultaneouslyremoving from all of the spinning stations of such row supply cans fromwhich sliver has been fed, and simultaneously placing in all thespinning stations of such row supply cans containing sliver to be fed tothe respective spinning stations of such row.
 3. The method defined inclaim 2 for supplying sliver to a plurality of spinning stations in afine spinning machine, the stations being arranged in rows at oppositesides, respectively, of the spinning machine, including simultaneouslyremoving from the spinning stations of the rows at both sides of thespinning machine supply cans from which sliver has been removed, andsimultaneously placing at all the spinning stations of both rows atopposite sides of the spinning machine supply cans containing sliver tobe fed to the respective spinning stations.
 4. The method defined inclaim 2 for supplying sliver to a plurality of spinning stations in afine spinning machine, the stations being arranged in two rows atopposite sides, respectively, of the machine, including simultaneouslyremoving from all the spinning stations of a first row supply cans fromwhich sliver has been Removed, simultaneously placing at all thestations of such row supply cans containing sliver from which sliver isto be fed to the spinning stations of such row while supply cans remainlocated undisturbed at the spinning stations of the other row, and,while the supply cans remain located undisturbed at the spinningstations of the first row, simultaneously removing from the spinningstations of the second row supply cans from which sliver has beenremoved and simultaneously placing at the supply stations of such secondrow supply cans containing sliver to be fed to the spinning stations ofsuch second row.
 5. The method defined in claim 2, in which the supplycans are removed from all of the spinning stations in a row and in adirection transversely of the length of such row, and, in placing thesupply cans in the spinning stations, moving such cans in a row in adirection transversely of the length of such row.
 6. The method definedin claim 2, in which the cans in being removed from the spinningstations are moved along one portion of an orbit away from the spinningstations, and the cans being placed in the spinning stations are movedalong another portion of the same orbit toward such spinning stations.7. The method defined in claim 3, in which refilling stations arelocated at opposite sides, respectively, of the fine spinning machine,cans removed from the spinning stations at the opposite sides of thefine spinning machine are moved toward their respective refillingstations along one portion of their respective orbits, and cans to beplaced in the spinning stations at opposite sides of the spinningmachine are moved toward such spinning stations along the samerespective orbits from the refilling stations.
 8. Mechanism forsupplying sliver to a plurality of spinning stations in a fine spinningmachine, comprising supply cans, means for feeding the stations fromsaid supply cans, a refilling station, a transport can larger than saidsupply cans receivable in said refilling station and having beenreceived from a fiber-treating machine, said refilling station includingmeans for refilling said supply cans from said transport can, and meansfor moving said supply cans from said refilling station to the spinningstations of the fine spinning machine.
 9. The sliver-supplying mechanismdefined in claim 8, in which a plurality of the spinning stations arearranged in two rows, and at least four can tracks parallel to the rowsof spinning stations.
 10. The sliver-supplying mechanism defined inclaim 8, in which a plurality of the spinning stations are arranged intwo rows, and the moving means includes at least four tracks parallel tothe rows of the spinning stations for moving supply cans therealongrelative to the spinning stations.
 11. The sliver-supplying mechanismdefined in claim 10, including sufficient supply cans to fill all fourtracks simultaneously.
 12. The sliver-supply mechanism defined in claim10, and connecting means connecting the four tracks in two pairs, saidconnecting means connecting corresponding ends of the tracks of eachpair for movement of cans from one track of a pair to the other track ofthe same pair while cans are moving simultaneously from said other trackof such pair to said one track of the same pair.
 13. Thesliver-supplying mechanism defined in claim 8, in which the moving meansincludes at least three tracks along which supply cans can move, firstconnecting means connecting a first one of said tracks to a second oneof said tracks, second connecting means connecting said first one ofsaid tracks to the third track, and selecting means operable selectivelyto transfer supply cans from said first track to said second track bysaid first connecting means, and from said first track to said thirdtrack by said second connecting means.
 14. The sliver-supplyingmechanism defined in claim 8, in which the moving means includes endlesstransport means for moving supply cans from the can-refilling means tothe Spinning stations of the fine spinning machine and back to thecan-refilling means.